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Authors: Naomi Chase

BOOK: Deception (Tamia Luke)
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“Hell, yeah. I wasn’t lying when I said that starting an escort agency was one of the best ideas I’ve ever had. That shit is recession-proof.” Lou grinned broadly, looking pleased with himself.
Again Tamia sighed. “I won’t lie. Your offer is very tempting, because after I pay off my legal bills, I’m gonna be flat broke. So I need a job ASAP.”
“Then come work for me.”
“I can’t.” She grimaced. “No offense, Lou, but I’m not interested in going back into the sex industry.”
“This is different—”
“Maybe in some ways, but sex is still the main focus of your business.”
Lou smirked. “So what? You got something against sex now?”
“Not at all,” Tamia said wryly. “In fact, getting laid is all I’ve been thinking about since I left the courthouse yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Lou wiggled his brows suggestively. “You know I can help you out with that.”
Tamia grinned. “Um, no, that’s okay.”
Yet she found herself staring at his full lips and remembering what her fellow porn stars used to whisper about his bedroom skills. If she hadn’t made a vow to hold out for Brandon, she would have been seriously tempted to give Lou some pussy. She needed her back blown out like nobody’s business.
Pushing the thought aside, Tamia said humorously, “I appreciate the offer, papi, but I value our friendship too much to take advantage of you like that.”
“Take advantage of me,” he urged. “Really. I don’t mind.”
They both laughed.
Sobering after several moments, Tamia smiled softly at Lou. “For real though, papi. I’m glad that business is going so well for you, and I’m flattered that you’d entrust me with managing your agency. But I love working in advertising, so I’m really hoping that I can find another job in that field. Starting Monday morning, I’ll be scouring every job search engine that’s out there and sending out my resume. With any luck,” she added ruefully, “I’ll find an employer who doesn’t know, or doesn’t care, that I was just acquitted of murder.”
“You will,” Lou said with such certainty that Tamia gave him an amused look.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked.
“That you’ll find a job?”
“Yeah. I mean, given my recent legal troubles—combined with a bad economy and an even worse job market—you have to admit that the odds are seriously stacked against me.”
“They are,” Lou gently agreed, his hazel eyes boring into hers. “But you’re a survivor, Tamia. No matter how many curveballs life throws at you, you’re always gonna come out on top. Remember that, and believe it.”
Chapter 7
Tamia
As Tamia returned to her apartment that evening, her cell phone went off.
After Brandon broke up with her, she’d changed her special ringtone for him to Melanie Fiona’s “Gone and Never Coming Back,” a song that made her cry every time she’d listened to it, which had been often. But hearing it now brought a huge, delighted grin to her face.
Because it meant that Brandon was calling.
After retrieving the phone from her new leather purse, she answered warmly, “Hey, you.”
“Hey, yourself.” The sound of Brandon’s deep, sexy voice made her pussy clench as she walked to the kitchen. “What’re you up to?”
“Nothing much,” she replied, her heels clicking smartly on the hardwood floor as she crossed to the refrigerator, opened the door, and placed a Styrofoam container on the top shelf. “I just got back from dinner with Shanell and Mark, and his army buddy Gavin.”
“Yeah? Where’d you guys go?”
“Pappadeaux. I’ve been craving seafood for months.”
“Sounds good,” Brandon said. “What’d you order? Your usual?”
Tamia smiled as she reached for a bottle of chardonnay that had been a housewarming gift from Shanell. “What’s my usual?”
Brandon chuckled softly. “You think I don’t remember just because it’s been a while?”
“Yup.”
“Well, you’re wrong.”
Tamia grinned, retrieving a wineglass from the cabinet before hunting down a corkscrew. “Prove it.”
“What? You’re testing me or something?”
“Maybe,” Tamia teased, thoroughly enjoying their lighthearted banter. “You’re pushing thirty-four, boo boo, so your memory’s probably starting to fail you.”
Brandon laughed. “Oh, you got jokes?”
“Yup.”
“That’s a’ight. I’ma remember that when you hit the big 3-0 next year.”
“Oooh! Hater!”
This time they both laughed.
Cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear, Tamia uncorked her bottle of wine and poured herself half a glass. “Well?” she prompted.
“Well what?”
“I’m still waiting for you to tell me what I ordered for dinner.”
Brandon heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Since you insist on testing my memory, little girl, I’ll play along. You had a house salad with chili lime vinaigrette, the crawfish platter, and a slice of key lime pie for dessert.”
Tamia smiled with pleasure. “You remembered.”
“Of course.” His voice softened. “I remember everything.”
Tamia’s smile faded. Given the disastrous way their relationship had ended, she couldn’t be blamed for wishing he didn’t have such a photographic memory.
“Anyway,” Brandon continued after a few moments, “I was calling to find out how the move went today.”
“Everything went well,” Tamia said, carrying her wineglass over to the long breakfast counter and perching on one of the high-backed barstools. “The movers were really efficient and professional. And they didn’t even get mad when the plans changed and they had to make an extra trip to Goodwill to drop off my furniture.”
“You donated your furniture to Goodwill?”
“Yup. Turns out I didn’t need any of it where I was going.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember how I told you that Lou found an apartment for me?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I had no idea that he’d hooked me up with an apartment at One Park Place.”
Brandon whistled softly. “One Park Place, huh?
Nice
.”
“Tell me about it,” Tamia agreed, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. “This apartment is off the chain, Brandon. It has two bedrooms and a study. It’s beautifully furnished, and it has the most amazing views of downtown. And don’t even get me started on the gourmet kitchen,” she gushed, admiring the room’s custom cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. “I can’t
wait
to start cooking in here. As a matter of fact, I’d love to make you dinner sometime, Brandon. It’s the least I can do after the way you came through for me. Just say the word, and I’ll start planning the menu. I’m thinking—”
“Whoa,” Brandon interrupted with a soft chuckle. “Slow down and take a deep breath, baby girl. I can’t keep up with you.”
Tamia’s face heated with embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to ramble on like that. It’s just that ... well, this is the nicest place I’ve ever lived. And you know what happens when you take folks like me outta the hood. We don’t know what to do with ourselves.”
Brandon was silent for a long moment. “Tamia.”
“Yes?” she mumbled.
“You have no reason to be ashamed of your humble beginnings,” he said so tenderly that tears welled in her eyes. “Who you are isn’t determined by what you had, or didn’t have, growing up. What you do with your life—the choices you make—is what defines you as a person.”
Tamia swallowed tightly. “I know. I didn’t at first, but ... I do now.”
“I believe that,” Brandon said quietly.
“You do?”
“Yeah.” He hesitated, as if he were trying to decide how much he should say. “I’ve watched you change over these past several months, Tamia. You let your guard down, and you opened up to me in ways you never had before. I wish ...” He trailed off.
Tamia held her breath, waiting.
But he didn’t pursue that train of thought. “What you went through never should have happened, but I’ve always believed that what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. I think you’re much stronger today than you were five months ago.”
“I think so, too,” Tamia whispered.
“Good,” Brandon said gently. “And as for your humble beginnings, not having the so-called finer things in life will only make you appreciate them more when you get them. Like that apartment.”
She smiled softly. “You’re right. I’m definitely appreciating the new digs.” She chuckled, adding, “I’ve been hearing
The Jeffersons
theme song in my head all day.
Fish don’t fry in the kitchen
—”
Brandon crooned,
“Beans don’t burn on the grill
—”
“
Took a whole lotta tryin’
—”
“
Just to get up that hill
—”
“
Now we’re up in the big leagues
—”
“
Getting our turn at bat
—”
Together they sang, “
As long we live, it’s you and me, baby. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. Well, we’re movin’ on up!
”
They both burst out laughing.
A few minutes later, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, Tamia took a sip of her wine and sighed. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed Brandon’s friendship, missed laughing with him and having fun together. If he gave her a second chance, she’d make damn sure she never again took him for granted.
Holding her glass, she slid off the stool and started from the kitchen. “By the way,” she said curiously, “where are you, Brandon?”
“At the office, catching up on some paperwork.”
“That’s no way to spend a Saturday evening,” Tamia gently scolded. “Besides, I thought one of the perks of making partner was working shorter hours.”
“Not quite.” Brandon chuckled dryly. “There’s an old saying in the legal community that practicing law is like a pie-eating contest. When you make partner, the prize is more pie.”
“Damn,” Tamia said with a rueful grin. “No rest for the weary, huh?”
“Nah. But it’s all good. I’m meeting the fellas for dinner in half an hour.”
“Oh, that’s nice.” Tamia paused, then couldn’t resist asking casually, “Where’s Cynthia?”
“She went to her cousin’s bridal shower.”
No wonder
, Tamia mused. If that clingy bitch had been around, there was no way she would have allowed Brandon to call Tamia, let alone stay on the phone for so long.
Reaching the living room, Tamia opened the sliding glass door and stepped out onto the balcony. Excitement coursed through her veins as she beheld the panoramic view of the night skyline, which was dominated by a glittering array of skyscrapers. Thirty stories below, the shimmering oasis of a pool flanked by palm trees made her feel as though she were vacationing at a tropical resort.
Standing at the banister, she closed her eyes and raised her face to the sky as a gentle, balmy breeze caressed her skin. She couldn’t help wishing that Brandon were there beside her, sharing her enjoyment of the breathtaking view.
On the other end of the line, he murmured, “Are you still there?”
She smiled, slowly opening her eyes. “I’m still here. I just stepped outside to check out the view from my balcony.”
“How is it?”
“Spectacular.” She sipped her wine. “Are you at your desk?”
“Yeah.”
“I want you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Get up from your chair and stretch your muscles, then walk over to the windows.”
He chuckled softly. “Why?”
“You’ll see.” She paused, giving him time to follow her instructions. After several moments, she asked, “Are you there?”
“Yeah.” Humor threaded his deep voice. “What now?”
She smiled. “Tell me what you see.”
He hesitated. “Buildings. Tall office buildings.”
“What else?”
“Cars moving down the street.”
“Look up.” Tamia paused. “
Now
tell me what you see.”
“The sky.”
Lips twitching at his cryptic descriptions—typical lawyer—she prodded, “What
about
the sky?”
“There’s a half moon. And a lot of stars.” His voice softened. “It’s beautiful.”
“It is.” Tamia smiled quietly, staring toward the heavens. “Do you know why we never see a full moon surrounded by stars?”
“No. Why?”
“Because bright moonlight scattered by the atmosphere tends to outshine nearby stars. So if you ever happen to see a circle of stars around a full moon, you’ve witnessed something truly phenomenal.”
“Really?” Brandon sounded both amused and fascinated. “I didn’t know that. Have you taken up astronomy now?”
Tamia grinned sheepishly.“While I was incarcerated, I did a lot of reading on lunar eclipses and the winter solstice. Don’t laugh,” she added when Brandon chuckled. “It was actually pretty amazing stuff.”
“No doubt. What you just shared with me was very interesting.”
Tamia smiled, warmed by the sincerity in his voice. “After learning all those things about the solar system, I vowed never to take another sunrise or full moon for granted. So that’s why I asked you to get up and look out your window. I wanted you to enjoy the same view I’m enjoying.”
“Thank you, Tamia,” Brandon said quietly. “Thank you for reminding me to appreciate the simple things.”
“You’re welcome.” She closed her eyes, her heart overflowing with such love for him that she could barely contain it. Swallowing hard, she said reluctantly, “Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Have fun with the fellas, and don’t be a stranger.”
“Same to you.”
In the ensuing silence, Tamia sensed that he wanted to say more. She waited, breath trapped in her lungs.
But after several seconds, all he said was, “Good night, Tamia.”
Disappointment washed over her. She didn’t know what she’d expected him to say. Maybe she’d wanted him to prolong their conversation, or ask her out on a date, or tell her how much he loved her and missed being with her. But she knew that was asking too much. Reclaiming his love would take time. She hadn’t lost him overnight. So she couldn’t expect to win him back overnight.
But that’s okay, because I’m in this for the long haul.
Smiling to herself, Tamia said softly, “Good night, Brandon. I definitely won’t be a stranger.”

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